Music of Verdi, Mozart Prokofiev featured in 'Opposites Attract'

University Park native Matthew Lipman, who studied with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra principal viola Matthew Mantell (not pictured), is among the featured performers for â¿¿Opposites Attractâ¿ on Feb. 25 in New Lenox. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra)

University Park native Matthew Lipman, who studied with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra principal viola Matthew Mantell (not pictured), is among the featured performers for â¿¿Opposites Attractâ¿ on Feb. 25 in New Lenox. (Photo courtesy of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra)

Three pieces and three guests are part of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's next concert.

Darko Butorac, one of five conductor candidates for the orchestra, leads "Opposites Attract" Feb. 25 at Lincoln-Way West Performing Arts Center in New Lenox while Southland natives Jasmine Lin and Matthew Lipman perform as guest artists.

"I am personally a fan of concerts that feature different repertoire," said Butorac, via phone from his home in Missoula, Montana. "As a music director I want to showcase as much as possible. It's our duty. I'm very excited about the program."

The concert includes the overture of "La forza del destino," an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi, and Symphony No. 5 by Sergei Prokofiev.

"Basically, it's looking at the parallels between two composers dealing with the concept of destiny and how it's reflected in their music within a historical context," said Butorac, music director of Missoula Symphony Orchestra & Chorale in Montana.

The third piece in the program is "Sinfonia Concertante" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with Lin on violin and Lipman on viola.

"Oftentimes an orchestra will hire soloists apart from guest conductors. That's half the fun. You go in and you're meeting soloists for the first time. There's a certain energy and excitement about that. That possesses its own dynamic and challenges," said Butorac.

Lin, a Homewood-Flossmoor High School graduate, teaches in Chicago and tours as a soloist and member of Trio Voce and Formosa Quartet.

Lipman, a University Park native, studied with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra principal viola Matthew Mantell. Lipman's debut recording of "Sinfonia Concertante" with violinist Rachel Barton Pine and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Sir Neville Marriner hit No. 2 on the Billboard classical charts.

"My goals are very simple – to make the best music possible with the best musicians possible," said Butorac, who is also music director of Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra in Florida.

"This calling is absolutely a blessing. To be able to do it as a career is magical. The impact you have really transcends that which is on stage. That's of tremendous importance to me."

Butorac, who first got in front of an orchestra in high school at age 17, said he was drawn to apply for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra music director position by the man who last held it: David Danzmayr.

"I very much admire him as a musician," Butorac said. "I knew it would be something I would be very much interested in. Looking at the repertoire the orchestra had done over the seasons, I saw there was very good quality. It's an orchestra with a core of high-quality musicians. That's very exciting."

Students from Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's first strategic partner, perform preconcert lobby music from 6:30-7:10 p.m. while Butorac does a preconcert talk from 6:30-7 p.m. in the auditorium.

"As with any great art, our job as musicians on stage is to present something which inspires the audience in the hall," said Butorac.

"It's really possible from the podium to communicate without saying anything. One of the great principles in life is to always be able to learn. As a professional, being a conductor really affords that. I'm very excited to get to know the orchestra and to perform in the Chicago area."